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Topic: When your heart hurts (Read 245 times)

Tonight we had to put one of our dogs to sleep unexpectedly. I have been crying for hours... I will stop, then start again. Now my heart literately hurts. I have felt this before, and I know its a feeling that will go away. But what gets me is my emotional pain is manifesting into a physical feeling of my heart hurting.

I know that mental pain can manifest as physical. My anxiety/depression comes across as pain in my right shoulder and back. Does anyone know why my heart hurts? Am I imagining it??

I am so sorry about the loss of you dog So sad. When you are sad, just really sad, the emotional feelings can definitely manifest as a physical pain. I don't have a 100% answer on why. I do know that emotional pain is very tiring on the body - expends alot of energy and makes muscles tighten. I believe that's what causes the pain. I don't know if there is more to it. I do know it is normal and will pass. Although I know you don't feel like it, I would try to be "kind" to your body. Maybe make a favorite tea, pick up a book, watch a favorite movie, just to be kind to your body and let it calm. If your body is feeling tight and achy from the tension, I would take some advil before bed - just to help the muscles relax. I don't think you are imagining it, but I do think it is a response to the emotional stress and physical tension of the sadness. Especially if you are an otherwise healthy person (no current underlying heart issues you had been treated for before all of this - and no, they wouldn't magically happen right now!) Be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to grieve. Accept the pain is part of the sadness. Then treat your body kindly and allow it to heal. Hope this helped. Hang in there.

The more you have loved and have allowed yourself to suffer because of your love, the more you will be able to let your heart grow wider and deeper. When your love is truly giving and receiving, those whom you love will not leave your heart even when they depart from you. The pain of rejection, absence, and death can become fruitful. Yes, as you love deeply the ground of your heart will be broken more and more, but you will rejoice in the abundance of the fruit it will bear.